Chapter 8
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
RECALLING ARNAV
(Devaki, how do I thank you for this perfect banner?)
Part 5
Section 1
"Akash, you didn't mention it to Payal, did you, that we will be reaching Lucknow soon?" ASR asked, his voice clipped.
"No, Bhai. You said you wanted to drop in unannounced," Akash hitched his glasses up his nose.
"Drop in naahi. Avoid being kicked out," irrepressible Mami said.
"Manno!" Mamaji tried to rebuke his wife.
"Manorama is right. In this instance," Nani sighed.
"It will rain today, with thunder and lightning. Saasumma has actually agreed with me, Hello Hi Bye Bye!" Mami whispered in her husband's ear.
"I hope the Guptas don't rain abuses on us, Manno," poor Mamaji said. He frowned. "But why did Khussi bitiyaa ask how many brothers Akass bitwaa has?"
"Maybe because she did not want to remember Arnav bitwa's cutting tongues and NK bitwaa's Hindi?" Mami suggested.
"Maasi!" NK protested.
All frowned at her attempt at levity.
"Buaji, I am going to the temple," Khushi jumped up from the breakfast table, carrying her plate to the kitchen to wash and dry.
"Kyon, Titliyaa? After talking your Jiji's ear off, you are going to harass Devi Maiyya?" Buaji teased her.
Khushi laughed. "Devi Maiyya is the only one who doesn't complain about my chatter, Buaji. She is the only one who truly loves me." Khushi wiped her face on Garima's pallu.
"Acha, Nandkisore? Then hamra parem jhoota he? Jaali note jaisen?" Buaji pretended to be sad, her face drooping.
Payal, Garima & Babuji smiled.
Khushi hugged Buaji till she gasped for breath. "Buaji, you are the best Buaji in the whole world."
Buaji said, gasping, "Chodo hamein, Sanka Devi!"
"I wil pray for your Nandkisore to appear before you soon," Khushi pinched Buaji's chin.
Buaji freed herself and folded her hands in appeal. "Jao, Nandkisore! Go and nag your Devi Maiyya. Only she can put up with you, you nautanki."
All laughed as Khushi tripped out of the room, humming a half-forgotten melody.
She left behind silence.
"What did she ask you last night, Payaliyaa?" Buaji asked.
"About my husband and his family, about her parents...", Payal sighed.
"Hai Re Nandkisore!" Buaji hit her head with her hand.
"My poor child!" Garima's eyes filled. "Jiji, when I see her laughing..."
"It is better this way, Garima. She is happy. She has forgotten everything unpleasant. Let her remain like this. I can't bear to see her as she was during that first month away from Arnav babua, Nandkisore." Buaji stated.
Babuji nodded.
Payal's phone rang.
"Akash," Payal blushed as she left the room with her phone.
"Payal, is Khushiji with you?" Akash asked, his eyes on Arnav.
Payal smiled. "No, she has gone to the temple. We can speak without fear of being overheard."
Akash obeyed his brother's instructions conveyed through gestures.
"Which temple? Is it far from your house?" he asked.
"Maa Purvi Devi Temple," Payal smiled. "It is close by, almost next door. But don't worry. Khushi won't be back anytime soon. She will chat with all the chachas and mamas there and then go on to the shop."
"Maa Purvi Devi Temple," Akash repeated.
Payal frowned. "Akash, are you alright?"
"Yes, just busy. I... I will see you... I mean, call you later." Akash cut the call.
Payal frowned at the phone, a perplexed smile on her face.
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